Climate Change and its impact on livelihood of coastal people in Bangladesh

Russell KabirDoctoral Student Department of Economics and International DevelopmentMiddlesex University London

Global Perspective of Climate Change

• Climate Change is global phenomenon;• Average global rise in temperature of 1.4 degree

C to 5.8 degree C between 1990 and 2100;• Changes in sea levels; projected to rise between

.09 and .88 meters by 2100 relative to 1990• Climate change is very likely to increase the

frequency and magnitude of extreme weather events such as cyclones drought and floods.

• Its negative impacts are more severely felt by poor people and poor countries;

Background

• The new Climate Change vulnerability index (CCVI) ranked Bangladesh as the no 1 extreme risk country to Climate Change.

• Bangladesh is at risk because of its- Geographic location- Flat and low lying topography- High population density- Reliance on many livelihoods on climate

sensitive sectors particularly agriculture and fisheries.

The coastal region of Bangladesh is situated in the South of the country.

The total length of Bangladesh coast line is 710 Km long.

Coastal area covers 32% of country’s total areas.

40 million people/ 28% of country’s population live in the coastal areas.

The Coast of Bangladesh

Climate Change Impacts

• Cyclone/storm surge: increased frequency, intensity, increasing salinity

• Floods: increased frequency, magnitudes• Droughts: Spreading over time and space• Erratic rainfall: Intensive rain in short time• Temperature: extremes increasing• Riverbank and coastal erosion: increasing• Sea Level Rise (SLR)

Water logging

Drought

Flood

Cyclone Storm surge, salinity

Bank erosion

Climate change impact in BangladeshClimate change impact in Bangladesh

Bank Erosion

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BHOLA

RANGAMATI

SYLHET

BAGERHAT

KHULNA

CHITTAGONG

NOA KHALI

BOGRA

TANGAIL

SATKHIRA

PABNA

BANDARBAN

DINAJPUR

COMILLA

NAOGAON

SUNAMGANJ

MYMENSINGH

BARISA L

JESSORE

COX S BAZAR

PATUAKHALI

NETROKONA

RAJSHA HI

HOB IGANJ

RANGPUR

NATORESIRAJGANJ

DHAKA

KURIGRAM

JAMALPUR

GAZIPUR

GAIBANDHA

FENI

KUSHTIA

KISHOREGANJMOULVI BAZAR

FARIDP UR

KHAGRACHHA RI

BARGUNA

JHENAIDAH

PIROJPUR

CHANDPUR

NAW ABGANJ

NILPHAMARITHAKURGA ON

RAJBARI

SHERPUR

GOPALGANJNARAIL

BRAHMANBARIA

MANIKGANJ

LAK SHMIPUR

PANCHAGARH

MAGURA

NARSINGDI

MADARIPUR

SHARIATPUR

LALMONIRHA T

CHUADANGA

JOYPURHAT

JHALAKATI

MEHERPUR

MUNSHIGANJ

NARAYANGANJ

BANGLADESHCyclone Prone Areas

Bay of Bengal

INDIA

MYANMAR

INDIA

INDIA

Cyclone Zone

Zone 1Zone 2Zone 3

N

EW

S

Cyclones in Bangladesh

Frequency of cyclones has increased significantly due to Climate change

Major cyclones in 1970, 1985, 1991 and 1997 resulted in over 500,000 deaths. Cyclone Sidr 2007 responsible for > 3,178 deaths. Cyclone Aila 2009 responsible for > 190 deathsUp to 36 million people are physically exposed periodically and 15 coastal districts are cyclone prone

Aim of the Research

To investigate the characteristics of the respondents in the climate change affected coastal areas of Bangladesh.

Why characteristics?

• Policymakers don’t care about ppm or (RCPs).And they don’t care about +2 either. If they care, the care about impacts.

Methodology

• Study Design: Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study

• Study Place: South West coastal part of Bangladesh .

• Target Population: Coastal population.• Sample Size:1000 households using Simple

Random Sampling Technique.• Quantitative data collected using

Questionnaire Survey.

Methodology (Continue…)

Methodology (Continue..)

Methodology(Continue..)

Summary of Findings

• Main occupation of the respondents –agriculture(30%) and fishing (17%).

• 83% women of these households look after their families and children.

• Average monthly income of these households are between in US dollar 25-65.

• In both the areas the main source of drinking water is deep tubewell.

• Most of the households use pit or slab latrine and some of them use open latrine.

Drinking Water

Distance travelled to fetch drinking water Sidr Aila

Does not apply 8.7% 4.9%

More than 100m 52.0% 52.0%

Less than 100m 39.3% 40.5%

Person responsible for fetching drinking water

Sidr Aila

Husband 2.4% 1.1%

Wife 80% 65.5%

Sons 4.4% 2.6%

Daughters 3.4% 5.8%

Others 5.8% 19.8%

No one 4.6% 5.3%

Shelter

Knowledge about Climate Change

Variables Frequency Percentage (%)

Heard about climate changeSidr Yes NoAila Yes No

43767

42148

86.713.3

89.810.2

Where heard about climate change Television Radio Newspaper Friends or relatives From Government Agencies From Non-government Agencies

33620556

695138401

34.521.1

5.871.414.241.2

Pattern of weather is generally changing Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree

463477154

14

47.649.0

1.50.41.4

Last 10 years seen changes in weather pattern Yes No

95518

98.1

1.8

Changes Observed

Experiences of the Coastal Population

Variables Frequency Percentage (%)

Climate change is affecting health To a great extent Somewhat Very little Not at all

5913322030

60.734.1

2.13.1

Climate change is causing-Sidr Changes of livelihood Reduction of income Loss of employment Reduction of job opportunities Reduction of crop yield Increased food price Increase of family’s other expenses Hardship increased in daily life No impactAila Changes of livelihood Reduction of income Loss of employment Reduction of job opportunities Reduction of crop yield Increased food price Increase of family’s other expenses Hardship increased in daily life No impact

473412233188475462424444

1

439436242212430415430441

5

93.881.746.237.394.291.784.188.1

0.2

93.693.051.645.291.788.591.794.0

1.1

Conclusion

• The coastal population of Bangladesh already facing devastating effect of climate change.

• The coastal people is aware of the changing climate and its effect on their lives.

• Climate change induced natural disasters affecting their livelihoods, destroying the agricultural land and forcing them to change their jobs and indirectly affecting their food consumption and overall health.

• Immediate adaptation and mitigation measures should be adopted to help these people and including strengthening the infrastructure at coastal areas to combat with these kind of natural calamities.

References

• Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS).(2005). Compendium of Environment Statistics of Bangladesh.Dhaka, Bangladesh.

• Disaster Management Bureau.(2010). National Plan for Disaster Management 2010-2015. Government of the People`s Republic of Bangladesh. Dhaka, Bangladesh.

• Kumar, R. (2011). Research Methodology: A step-by-step guide for the beginners. 3rd ed. London: Sage Publications. P31.

• Mizan, M.R., and Bijoy, M.R.,(2009) . Future Direction For Bangladesh in Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation. Dhaka, Bangladesh.

• Maplecroft News (2011). Big economies of the future - Bangladesh, India, Philippines, Vietnam and Pakistan - most at risk from climate change. [Online] Available from: http://maplecroft.com/about/news/ccvi.html [Accessed on 12/06/2013]

• World Health Organization (WHO). Climate change impacts on health. Available at http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2003/pr91/en/ [ Accessed on 11/06/2013]

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